Automatic hypodermic needle



J. H. UYTENBOGAART AUTOMATIC HYPODERMIC NEEDLE Aug. 5, 1952 Filed July 10, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

m E N M r r A w M U f 0.. H

my NB N A, I M

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IIIIIIIIIvIfIIIIIIIf/IIIIIIIII/IIFIII 'V\ r Patented Aug. 5, 1952 v AUTOMATIC HYPODERM'IC NEEDLE Johannes W. H. Uytenbogaart, Wassenaar, Netherlands, assignor to Auguste 'Rooseboom, Bronxville, N. Y.

Application July 10, 1947, SerialNo. 760,088 In the Netherlands August 1Q, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690,,Augi1st s, 194

Patent expires August 10, 1963;

This invention relates to hypodermic syringes or needles and is particularlyconcerned with an automatic operating device for automatically performing injections into the human and animal bodies.

Asa result of the significant development of chemical and hormonal therapeutics during the last twenty years, there has been an enormous increase in the number of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections to which sufferers of certain' organic deficiences are submitted; The experiments with oral application of 7 chemical therapeutics and hormones in order to elimi-' nate injections thereof have not metwith decisive success on the whole.

One of the objects of the invention is to solve the medical problem of performing the injection arising from this large increase in thenumber thereof. The invention can beapplied in all those cases in which the sufferers from certain diseases must have injections daily, or at intervals of a few days, or even at'intervals-of a few years, possibly for the rest of their lives. The invention is particularly useful in such cases as will be illustrated by the following examples: insulin-injections for diabetes; ergotamin for status migrainosis; desoxycorticosterone acetate for insufiiciency of the supra-renal gland andAddisons disease;- injections for pernicious anaemia; calcium for asthma, haemophilia, hay-fever, malaria, rheumatism, allergic eczemae and osteomalacia; adrenalin or ephedrine for asthma; Hechts injection for haemoe philia; or digitalis preparations for heart-fail- We in case these do not agree with the patient when taken orally. It is to be understood that 7 tempts to teach the patientshave not proved successful because of psychic impediments and lack of the adroitness required. In such cases, the continuous treatment with injections presents great inconveniences for the sufferer, including loss of time'and expense. These inconveniences can 'be met by applying the entirely automatically operated hypodermic syringe of thisinvention. a e

. For self-injection,*theinvention is particularly useful in -intramuscular and subcutaneous injections because in intravenous injections' the aid of a physician will remain indispensable considering the'degree of experience and-knowledge needed'in inserting the cannula or needle into the blood vessel. 4

One of the features of the automatic syringe of the present invention includes an injection cylinder-with a piston movable therein and having a hypodermic needle at the foremost en'd thereof, said cylinder being constructed to fit into a cylindrical barrel, the rear part of 'sa'id barrel having a casing surrounding the/Same, the casin being capable v: of rotationrelative? to the barrel when actuated by a spring. 'I1'1e' pis'- ton'isconnected to the casin by means of a plunger attached to said pistons'othat during rotation of the casing a reciprocating movement back and forth is'impartedto the injectionjtayl incler and to the piston therein. i

The automatic hypodermic syringe of thisfinvention acts in four stages or steps. When the needle is in a retracted position relative to a conical cap thereon, an impervious cup filled with a sterilization fluid,,such"as ethanol, can be placed over the needlef In this manner,-the hypodermic syringe will be' in condition for m stantly receiving the liquid to be injected, fThe impervious cup and the conical cap attached-to the cylindrical body toprotect'the'front olzfthe syringe are first removed, thereby exposing the retracted hypodermic needle. The"ampoul'efthen can be opened and the exposed needle insert-'- ed therein. By pressing a small lever handle, the spring motivatin means havingbeen pre- 'viously energized, the first step of'filling *the syringe from theamppule can be caused to'take place; The piston is "retracted relative to the injection cylinder and'a predetermined quantity of liquid to be injected is drawn into the syringe, such as, 'for example, 2 or 5 cubic centimeters, or'any desired amoun i The piston then stops automatically and the empty ampoule can 'be removed and the co'nical [restored to place, and when in this Eco'ndi tion the syringe is ready for use. Next,'the"conic'al cap can be pressed against the fskinll Th e need for the usual sterilization by means of cotton and alcohol is eliminated becauseof the small quantity of alcohol or;sterilizationiliquid stilfre} maining in the capillary passage of the conical capg 'lfhe lever handle then can ;be operated a second time, which will'release, the piston" allow the wound spring todrive-thepiston and caps with difierent top angles. The physician can prescribe the correct cap to be used and the pierc ing depth in relation to the length of the needle. The needle pierces the tissue to. a predetermined distance in relation to the length of the needle and the cap angle, this being, for example, l()

to 15 mm. A No. 15 needle is an example of one typ of satisfactory needle. Upon completion of the cycle, the syringe is ready for another injection. It is evident that before every operation, the operating spring should be wound by giving a few turns to a suitable knob as will be described hereafter.

Ifheseand. other objects, advantages, andfeatines-of the; invention will appear from the following description and drawings, which are mereyiexemplary.

l igrglfshows: one example of the use of the invention wherein an intramuscular injection is to be made.

2 shows a manner in which the invention carrbe used for a subcutaneous injection. vli ig, 3 isa cross-sectional view ofxthe device when; theneedle is in its advanced "position and th -piston has. completed forcing the liquid through the needle.

Fig. 4- is an. elevation view with the impervious eamin "section, showing the needle in, retracted position.

Fig.5 is a schematic view depicting; the screw thread arrangement.

In the operation of the device, the four stages oi; action of the automatic syringe are:

(1) Retraction of, the piston to cause the syringe; or injectioncylinder to. be filled with a liquidto be injected,

, (2) Projection of the hypodermic needle into the. skin,

- 3) Thepushingforward or the piston relative is; the injectionv cylinder, causing the liquid to be; expelled intothe flesh, and

t4) Retraction of the: hypodermic needle irom theskin.

H At theconclusion of the fourth step of the cycle,- the needle is in the same'position as it at the.- beginningoi the first stage, and upon winding. of the spring, the cycle is repeated as desired.

V In apreferred formeof the; device, a hypodermic springe comprises a cylindrical barrel I, to which the conicalcap -2 can b appropriately fixed by means eta-bayonet catch 2a or other suitable arrangement; Located at the end of the cylindrical barrel opposite. tocap 2 is awinding knob 3s'for putting a coilorsuitable spring 4 under tension. A tubularcasing or impervious cup 5 (Fig. 4) may be, attached by means. of screw thread 6. and. conical rim I. The cup 5 is constructed to have. a tight fit with. the cylindrical loody t so as. to retain. the sterilization liquid in the cup, casing 5. serving as a receptacle for said sterilization liquid, such. as ethanol. When in the closedposition: as in Fig. 4, the entire syringe can 'be carried in the pocket which is of advantage in its useby physicians.

- The injection fluid cylinder -9 can reciprocate in thecylindrical barrel 1. Piston I0 is connected with. plunger [2 by means of piston rod ll, said 4 piston, plunger, and rod being reciprocable in and relative to the injection cylinder 9. The injection cylinder 9 may be made of metal, glass, porcelain, ora suitable synthetic material.

In the cylindrical barrel I a suitable groove I3 is arranged, through which a pin [4 protrudes, said pin 14 being connected with the plunger 12. The protruding end of pin [4 is slidable in a screw-shaped endless groove E5 on the inner side of the cylindrical casing 16, said cylindrical casing It being rotatable around the rear end oibarrel l. The screw-shaped endless groove I5 is a left-hand winding in one direction and then turns into a right-hand winding, thegroove being cut as shown schematically in Fig. 5. In this manner, when the cylindrical casing 16 is rotated in one direction, the pin 14 will be guided in groove I3 and plunger l2 will be reciprocated back and forth relative to injection cylinder 9. The number of revolutions required for one complete reciprocation is determinedby the slope or pitch of the screw-groove l5.. When the plunger I2 is reciprocated, piston rod II and piston I10 will be moved backwards and forwards.

Cylindrical casing- It can be turned by means of the spiral leaf spring 4'. The spiral leaf spring 4 can be wound by pressing "inwardly the knob 3 so as to engage gearing ll. Then, when the knob 3 is turned, hub 18' will be turned and the spring wound, the other end of the spring being secured on the fixed pin 19. Ratchet wheel 20 in cooperation with ratchet 2| will prevent slipping of the leaf spring when cylindrical casing I6 connected with the hub It by means of ratchet wheel 20 is held from rotation by the latch 22 as described hereafter.

Cylindrical casing I 6 cannot'revolv unless piston I 0 with piston rod! 1 and plunger 12 are free to reciprocate, said freedomto reciprocate being prevented by lever catch 22 carried by leaf spring 23. Said catch can be engaged alternately behind locking endsv or shoulders 24 and 25 of the rectangular slidable bar 26, said slidabl bar being secured topl-unger l2. By'turning lever 2'1, lever catch 22' will be lifted, thus permitting the slidable bar to be moved freely with the plunger. A cap (not shown) to protect lever 21 may beattached to the end of-the tubular casing 5.

At the front end of the injection cylinder 9, a slidable valvev 28 is mounted which, together with the valve pin 2 3,is secured to hollow cylinder 30. Valve 28 fits with a conically ground rimon the seat3l. of.-valve housing 32.

Hollow cylinder 30 has a small tube with a slight taper at its fore end onto which the hypodermicneedle 33 can be slid. By means of the hollow cylinder 30, leaf spring 34 presses valve 28 connected therewith toward the valve seat 3 l..

In-operation of the device, knob 3 can be given five or an appropriate number of complete turns so as to wind the spring and place it in condition for operation. While this is being done, injection cylinder 9, together with piston I0, rod H and plunger [2, will be moved to the right so that the flange on cylinder 9 engages stud 35;

. the piston l0, piston rod l l, and plunger l2 connected with the rectangular slidable bar 25 being then stopped by the lever catch 22 engaging the locking shoulder 24 of rectangular bar 2-6, the Wound spring tending-to move the assembly to the right (Fig. 3).

The conical cap 2" then can be removed and the opened am-poule slid over the hypodermic needle. Lever handle 2! then canbetu-rned over whichwill release the lever catch from in front of the locking shoulder 24 and permit the spring 1 to move the piston, piston rod, and plungerfto the right. The resulting air pressure or vacuum in the injection cylinder 9 will cause valve 28 to open and the liquid or material to be injected drawn into injection cylinder '9. As this occurs, catch 22 will slide along the smooth side of the slidable bar 2t until the catch under urgence of leaf spring 23 is again pressed inwardly behind the locking end of the shoulder 25 of the rectangular slidable bar 26. This will take place at the time when pin l4 slides into the right end winding screw-groove at the right-hand end of the cylindrical casing 16, or at the time when the direction of movement of the plunger with the piston is reversed and is ready to return to the left (Fig. 3) The ampoule then can be removed and the conical cap 2 replaced. c

When an intramuscular injection is to be made, the'syringe can be placed with its conical top against the skin as seen in Fig. 1. If a subcutaneous injection is to be made, the skin can be lifted up as shown in Fig. 2 so as to cause the needle to take the path shown in Fig. 2.

The lever catch 21 now is turned to the other side. which can be done by clutching and pressing the syringe with four fingers against the skin while the thumb turns over the lever catch. Such movement will remove the lever catch 22 from in front of the locking end or shoulder 25 so that wound spring 4 will'cause rotation of cylinder casing i6 and move the cylinders, piston I9, and the contents in the cylinder to the left (Fig. 3) as the needle is moved into the flesh. During this part of the operation, the injection liquid does not move out of the injection cylinder because valve 25 is pressed against its seat by leaf spring 34. c The hypodermic needle thus will be moved from a retracted position relative to the conical cap 2 to a projected position relative thereto, whereby it penetrates through the skin into the flesh until the point is reached Where the upper end. of the needle is stopped by strikingagainst the inner small end 212 of conical cap 2. This will arrest movement of the'slidable hollow cylinder 9.. The injection cylinder 9, however, can be moved slightly further to the left, thus causing the valve to. open against pressure. of the spring 34. r r

The liquid-to be injected will now be expelled into the flesh by the piston continuing its movement to the left relative to the injection cylinder 9, the injection cylinder 9 remaining stationary. Upon completion of theinjection with the piston at its left end (Fig. 3), the plunger M will enter the other groove of the cylindrical casing l6 and cause retraction of the needle from the muscle tissue until the needle is again retracted within theconical cap 2. Movement to the right (Fig. 3) of the cylinder 8 and associated parts will continue until the injection cylinder 9 again strikes against stud 35, the piston 50 and plunger ,4 2 being stopped by the locking shoulder 24ag'ain' engaging the lever catch 22.

The tubular cup 5 with ethanol therein again can be screwed to the lower end of the'syringe (Fig. 4) and the syringe put away ready for use again.

It is evident that the slidable bar 26 and cylin drical casing IS with crossed groove Hi can be removed and slidable bars having other characteristics and Various types of casings with screw-grooves employed so as to -produce'varia tions and modifications in the travel of the needle and the travel of the piston. The length of piston travel relative to the injection cylindercontrols the amount of liquid injected. Such a changing is'quite simple and can be done by removing three screws 36 in knob 3, said knob 3, spring 4 and hub l3 with ratchet wheel then being removed. The cylindrical casing IS with the plunger l2, piston rod H, and piston l0 and the slidable rectangular bar 26 then can be removed and other elements placed therein, as mentioned. In this manner, it is possible to adapt the ypodermic syringe of the device to the various prescriptions which the physician may give concerning depth of penetration, angle ofpene'tration, and the amount of liquid or therapeutic to be injected.

It is to be understood that one form of construction is shown and that various modifications in the details thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A hypodermic syringe comprising a rigid therapeutic holding chamber and needle connected therewith, therapeutic expelling means connected with said chamber operable to expel therapeutic therefrom through said needle, motivating means connected with said expelling means through reciprocating motion mechanism, said motivating means being energizable to reciprocate said expelling means and needle for movingsaid needle into the skin, discharging therapeutic from the therapeutic holding chamher and then withdrawing saidneedle from the skin, means to energize said motivating means, and means releasably holding said motivating means in energized position so that upon release of the motivating means said expelling means will exp-e1 therapeutic from said chamber under the skin and then retract said needle.

2. A hypodermic syringe comprising a therapeutic holding chamber and needle connected therewith, therapeutic expelling means connected to said chamber operable to expel therapeutic therefrom through said needle, spring operated mechanism connected with said expelling means through reciprocating motion apparatus, said mechanism being energizable to reciprocate said expelling means and needle, means to energize said spring, and means releasably holdingsaid spring in energized position so that upon release of the spring said needle can be moved into the skin, said expelling means can expel therapeutic from said chamber through said needle as it moves relative thereto, and said needle retracted by said spring operated mechanism. v

3. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, said syringe having an injection cylinder and a piston movable therein, a hypodermic needle adapted to be mounted at the front end of said cylinder, cylinder holding means for carrying said injection cylinder, a releasable spring actuated mechanism connected to said piston through reciprocating motion apparatus and moving said piston and injection cylinder back and forth relative to said cylinder holding means when said spring mechanism is released, said needle being moved forward therewith and backward after the therapeutic has been expelled from the cylinder and means to release said spring to move said needle into the skin and 1m ject a therapeutic through said needle. T I

4.; A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing. injections into; human; and animalv bodies comprising an, injection cylinder with: a piston slidable; therein, said cylinder being adapted to. have a-;hypodermic, needle; mounted atjthe fore end. thereof, a support for;said cylinder, a spring actuator connected to said piston through. mechanism operable to impart a' back and forth mo.ve-. ment to. said injection cylinder and piston, and means; to render said spring effective to operate. said, cylinder. and piston, so that automatically said piston; is. retracted to draw liquid into. the cylinder, said needle is projected, said. piston expels liquid to be injected, through said needle, and said needle is: retracted.

A hypodermic; syringe forautomatically performing injections into human and animal bodies comprising anv injection. cylinder with a piston slidable; therein, saidcylinder. being adapted to carry'a hypodermic needle at the fore end of said cylinder, a support for said cylinder, a revolving member mounted adjacent the rear end of said support, a connection between said piston and said revolving member, said connection imparting. a back and forth movement to said injection cylinder and piston when said member is revolved, so as to retract said piston to draw liquid into the. injection cylinder, project said needle, press said piston forward relative tosaid injection cylinder to expel liquid through the needle, and thereafter retract said.v hypodermic needle.

5. Ahypodermic' syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies comprising aninjection cylinder, a piston movable therein, a, hypodermic needle mountable at the-fore end of said cylinder, a tubular barrel into which said cylinder fits, a spring actuated revolving casing surronnding the rear part of said barrel, means connecting said piston to said revolving casing to impart a back and forth movement to said injection cylinder and piston when the casing is rotated relative to the barrel, whereby the piston is retracted to draw liquid into the injection cylinder, the hypodermic needle is projected, the piston is moved forward relative to. the cylinder to expel liquid, and the needle is thereafter retracted.

'Z. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, comprising an injection cylinder with a piston movable therein. and a hypodermic needle mountable .at the fore end of said cylinder, a tubular barrel. carrying said cylinder, a spring actuated revolving casing mounted on. the rear end of said barrel, said revolving casing having a screwshaped endless groove therein, means connecting said piston with said endless groove to cause movement back and forth of said piston relative to said barrel upon rotation of the revolving casing so that upon rotation of the revolving casing, the piston is retracted to draw liquid into the injection cylinder, and upon further rotation of the casing the hypodermic needle is first projected, the piston is pressed forward relative to the injection cylinder to expel liquid, and then the hypodermic needle is retracted.

8. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies comprising an injection cylinder, a piston movable therein, a hypodermic needle mountable at the fore end of said cylinder, a tubular barrel carrying said injection cylinder, a spring actuated rotatable casing mounted on the rear end of said barrel, means connecting said piston with said rotatable casing including an endless screw-groove, latch means. cooperable with said piston to selectively control movement of the injection cylinder and piston, so that. said piston is first retracted to draw liquid into the injection cylinder and thereafter the needle is. projected, the piston moved forward relative to the injection cylinder to expel liquid through said needle, and the hypodermic needle is retracted.

9. A. hypodermic syringe for automatically performing. injections into human and animal bodies comprising an injection cylinder with a piston movable therein, said injection cylinder being adapted to have a hypodermic needle mounted at the fore end thereof, support means slidably carrying said injection cylinder, 2, spring actuated rotatable casing mounted on said sup.- port, connections between said piston and said rotatable casing including a continuous screwgroove for imparting reciprocating movement to said injection cylinder relative to said support upon rotation of the casing, and a normally closed valve at the fore end. of said cylinder operable after said needle has been projected for ward so that liquid may be expelled by movement of the piston relative to the injection cylinder.

10. A hypodermic. syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, said syringe having an injection cylinder and a piston movable relative thereto, said cylinder being adapted to have a hypodermic needle mounted at the front end thereof, cylinder holding means for carrying said injection cylinder, said injection cylinder being movable relative to said holding means, a releasable spring actuated mechanism connected to said piston to move said piston and injection cylinder back and forth relative to said cylinder holding means when said spring mechanism is released, and a normally closed valve at the front end of said cylinder, said valve being operable when said needle reaches its projected position so that movement of the piston relative to the cylinder thereafter can inject a therapeutic through the needle.

11. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, said syringe having an injection cylinder and a piston movable therein, said injection cylinder being adapted to have a hypodermic needle mounted at the front end thereof, cylinder holding means for movably carrying said injection cylinder, a releasable spring actuated mechanism connected to said piston moving said piston and injection cylinder back and forth relative to said cylinder holding means when said spring mechanism is released, a cap securable to the front end of the cylinder holding means through which said needle can be reciprocated, and means to actuate said spring to project said needle from said cap into the skin, inject a therapeutic therethrough, and automatically retract said needle.

12. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, said syringe having an injection cylinder and a piston movable relative thereto, said injection cylinder being adapted to'have a hypodermic needle mounted at the front end thereof, cylinder holding means for movably carrying said injection cylinder, a releasable spring actuated mechanism connected to said piston to move said piston and injection cylinder back and forth relative to said cylinder holding means when said spring mechanism is released, a cap securable to the front end of the cylinder holding means through which said needle can be reciprocated, a normally closed valve located at the front end of said injection cylinder to control the flow of therapeutic, therefrom, and means to open said valve when said cylinder and needle have reached a projected position so that the piston can thereafter inject a therapeutic through the needle. v

13. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, said syringe having an injection cylinder and piston movable relative thereto, a hypodermic needle adapted to be mounted at the front end of said cylinder, cylinder holding means for carrying said injection cylinder, a spring actuated revolving member mounted at the rear end of said cylinder holding means, a connection between said piston and said revolving member, said connection being adapted to impart a back and forth movement to said injection cylinder and piston when said member is revolved, a valve mounted at the front end of said injection cylinder and engageable with a valve seat therein, resilient means normally pressing said valve against the valve seat, and means to open said valve when said injection cylinder reaches the forward end of its travel so that a therapeutic can be injected through said needle from said injection cylinder.

14. A hypodermic syringe for automatically performing injections into human and animal bodies, comprising an injection cylinder and piston movable therein, a hypodermic needle adapted to be mounted at the front end of said cylinder, cylinder holding means for movably carrying said injection cylinder, a releasable spring actuated mechanism connected to said piston to move, when released for a first time, said piston in said cylinder in backward direction to draw a therapeutic into said cylinder, and when released for a second time, automatically and successively first to move said piston, said injection cylinder and said needle in forward direction to move the needle into the skin, subsequently to move said piston in a forward direction relative to said injection cylinder to expel the therapeutic from said cylinder through said needle, and lastly to move said piston, said injection cylinder and said needle in a rearward direction relative to said cylinder holding means to retract the needle from the skin, means operable to release said spring actuated mechanism,- and means to activate the spring of said mechanism.

JOHANNES W. H. UYTENBOGAART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

